Pocket money
Host families pay their au pair monthly pocket money of 280 €. The amount is regulated uniformly nationwide and is for the au pair’s personal use. This is not employment subject to social insurance contributions or a mini-job.
Costs for Host Families in Germany
Costs for Host Families in Germany
As a host family, you cover certain ongoing costs that are clearly regulated and usually easy to plan.
These include pocket money, insurance, a subsidy for the language course, as well as additional costs for accommodation and meals.
On this page, you will find a clear and transparent overview of the typical costs
for host families in the au pair program in Germany.
You can find a detailed explanation of the application steps on our page about the host family process.
What costs should host families expect?
The costs for an au pair consist of fixed and variable components. They are regulated by law and differ significantly from traditional childcare through daycare or a nanny.
| Cost item | Monthly costs | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pocket money | 280 € | Legally fixed amount |
| Au pair insurance | approx. 45 € | Health, accident, and liability insurance |
| Subsidy for the language course | 70 € | Minimum subsidy per month |
| Transport to the language course | approx. 63 € | e.g. Deutschlandticket; required if the language course takes place locally |
| Accommodation & meals | approx. 250 € | Additional costs for food, electricity, water, heating, etc. |
| Total monthly costs (approx.) | 708 € per month | Average value for orientation |
The amounts shown are for guidance and are based on the currently typical costs. Actual costs may vary slightly depending on the region, lifestyle, and the family’s individual situation.
Accommodation & Meals
As a host family, you provide your au pair with a private, lockable room as well as free meals. These benefits are considered benefits in kind and are part of the au pair arrangement.
Insurance
You must take out health insurance for the au pair. However, this insurance is not comparable to statutory or private health insurance in Germany.
There are two big insurance companies offering insurances for au pairs: Dr. Walter AU-PAIR24 and Klemmer AU-PAIR INSURANCE.
Further everyday costs
The au pair will, of course, also take part in family life. If you go out to eat, to the zoo, the cinema, or an amusement park, you should generally offer your au pair to come along. In this case, as the host family, you also cover all costs incurred.
Postage
If original documents are required by the embassy, the postage must be paid by the host family. These should be sent via DHL Express, otherwise they may not arrive and tracking abroad is not possible. You should expect costs of around 50€ to 75€.
If you work with a RAL-certified agency like us, the au pair usually does not have to submit original documents.
German course
Host families must contribute at least 70€ per month towards the German course.
The host family can also pay for the entire language course. The contribution towards the language course is payable even if the au pair does not attend a language course. However, the requirement is that the au pair attempts to learn German.
You can find more about online German courses here.
Subsidy for flight costs
Almost always, au pairs pay 600€ to 1000€ for a one-way flight to Germany. Many have to borrow the money for the flight from parents, acquaintances, and friends. Sometimes an entire village pools money. Au pairs then repay the money from their pocket money, leaving hardly anything for other things.
To reduce the financial burden for au pairs and their families on the one hand, and to find a fair solution for host families on the other, we recommend a monthly flight subsidy of 50€. This means that over the term of the contract, the au pair has the opportunity to be reimbursed for a large part of the flight costs. The prerequisite, of course, is that the au pair stays with you. If a termination is issued and the au pair changes host families, the au pair will no longer benefit from this subsidy. The subsidy therefore provides an additional incentive for the au pair to stay with the host family for as long as possible.
Public transport
The transport costs to the language course and back home must be paid by the host family. If the language school is within walking distance, or the au pair can use a bicycle, these costs do not apply.
If the German course takes place online, we recommend that host families cover the cost of transport to the nearest city once a week. Au pairs need social contacts.
Alternatively, the host family can also make the saved transport costs available to the au pair for the online course.
You should consider covering the cost of the Deutschlandticket to ensure your au pair’s mobility.
Predictable costs in comparison
Compared to other forms of childcare, the au pair program offers a well-calculable cost structure while also providing support in everyday family life.
Frequently asked questions about costs
Are the costs tax-deductible?
Certain costs may be tax-deductible under certain circumstances, for example as household-related services. Please seek individual advice on this.
How high are the total costs per month?
The total monthly costs consist of pocket money, insurance, the language course subsidy, as well as accommodation and meals. As a rule, they are significantly below the costs of a full-time nanny.
Are there additional costs?
Additional costs may arise individually, for example through leisure activities, holiday trips, or special wishes of the family or the au pair.
Next step
We are happy to advise you personally on the costs and conditions and to check together whether the au pair program is right for your family.